Into the Light (The Admiral's Elite Book 2) by HK Savage Page A

his statement with a direct stare. “Seriously, I mean most of the time she’s kinda sad to change back when it’s time to come home. This time though,” his big head wagged from side to side. “It was like she was so shaken up she couldn’t hold to her wolf form. And then, when I tried to talk to her, she ignored me. It was eerie, she completely zoned me out. She just followed the trail back into a section of woods for about a mile. I changed so I could talk to her and then as soon as I did, she changed back until I got the message and left her alone. She went back to human and I stayed wolf. Figured if I was furry I could protect her better if anything happened. Funny thing was, I didn’t smell anything different at the farmer’s place than anywhere else. I have no idea what spooked her.”
     
    Michael heard his pain and offered him a tight smile. “You know her Ryan, she needs her space.”
     
    “This is more than space.” He crossed his thick arms in front of him. “She’s avoiding me.  Something shook her up man, and now she’s gone.”
     
    “I can help you look for her.”
     
    Ryan held up a hand. “Hey, don’t worry about it. I’m sure she’ll come back when she’s ready.” He aimed his chin toward the door behind Michael. “Besides, she needs you in there when she wakes up.” He backed up. “I’m going out to look for her now that the sun’s going down and I can do it my way. I’ll check in when I get back.”
     
    “Right.” Michael nodded, tight lipped. “Give a shout if you need me, I’ll hear you.”
     
    “Thanks.” Ryan backed away and jogged into the woods. Seconds later a cinnamon-colored wolf trotted out and looked both ways before crossing the road to disappear into the trees beyond. He would howl if he needed help. Michael could hear it from miles away.
     
    Stepping back into their room, he breathed a sigh from habit, not need. His unit was under fire from within and he didn’t know how to fix it. The admiral would want an update and he couldn’t put it off any longer.
     
    Easing his phone from his pocket, he stood at the edge of the bed to gaze down at his Becca.
     
    “Michael.”
     
    The admiral’s cool voice rankled him instantly. “Sir, we have some problems.”
     
    No hesitation, not even a break in his serenity. What all had the man seen in his centuries, maybe millennia? “Such as?”
     
    He started with the least worrisome first. “Gabrielle, Sir, she’s disappeared. Ryan’s out looking for her.”
     
    “Disappeared how, Michael?”
     
    “She’s wandered off, Sir. Ryan said they were out trying to follow the scent of the windego to find its den when she came across something that distracted her. She wouldn’t talk about it and now she’s gone off. He’s out looking for her now.”
     
    “Is that all? I can’t help but notice you sound rather upset. Given there is no lost love between Gabrielle and yourself, I must assume it involves our human?”
     
    If they’d been in the same room Michael’s expression would have drawn the admiral’s wrath for sure. He wasn’t allowed to call her ours . “Sir, Becca had what I believe was a vision on the ride back from a tour of the crime scenes today. She hasn’t woken up.” His struggle to keep his distress from his voice wasn’t enough.
     
    “Would this have anything to do with her recent weakness?” Black floored Michael with his insight.
     
    To admit Becca was weak and possibly unable to do her job might devalue her in the admiral’s eyes and that didn’t bode well for her longevity. “Sir?”
     
    The admiral chuckled. “Did you think you could hide her deterioration from me? She is not the first human who has received a heavy infusion of vampire blood in history. Although she is the first I have seen harbor the side effects for this long. Most likely that is because of her unusual genetic twist.”
     
    “You mean the fact that she’s a witch?” Michael referred to Black’s